Formula E – To race in Long Beach

Formula E has added Long Beach to the calendar for its inaugural season.

The famous IndyCar and ex-Formula 1 street track takes the April 4, 2015 date that had been previously announced as running in downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach is in Los Angeles county, 25 miles from the city itself.

Formula E will use a shortened 1.6-mile track layout for its event, which takes place two weeks before next season’s IndyCar round there.

Long Beach mayor Bob Foster said: “Long Beach is proud to be among the elite group of international cities hosting the FIA Formula E Championship. The Long Beach ePrix will bring a new generation of race fans to the iconic streets of Long Beach.”

Long Beach City Council recently voted to extend its deal with IndyCar through to 2018, despite overtures from a group attempting to bring F1 back to the venue for the first time since 1983.

The Long Beach race will be one of two American events on the first Formula E calendar, forming a double-header with a Miami event scheduled for March 14.

Andretti Autosport is among the 2014-15 FE entrants, along with ex-IndyCar squad Dragon Racing.